Riley's Secret (A Moon's Glow Novel # 1) (31 page)

Nate glared at Joe through the rearview mirror. “Because
I want you to think about it first and if you decide to move forward I think
you should ask her father.”

“Did you ask Megan’s father?”

“That’s different. Will knows what you are and he
should have a say in whether his daughter gets involved with a werewolf.”

Now I remembered that glazed stare. Nate did it to me
three years ago, when he first smelled my scent. “No way. Are you saying that
Lauren’s your mate?” I spun around, leaned against the head rest and stared at
Joseph in shock.

He paused, about to yell at Nate again. Instead, he
glanced quickly at me, then out the window, suddenly interested in the passing
scenery. “Yes,” he said quietly.

I giggled. I didn’t know what else to do. Nate shot me
a dirty look. He seemed stressed over this new development.

We pulled up to the cottage. Nate went in to search it
before allowing me to enter. “I smell an old trail, did you pick that up?” he
asked Joseph.

Joseph was distracted, but when he heard his name he
sniffed and walked around. “Yeah, I’d say yesterday. I should have smelled it
when I got here, but I was happy to see you.”

“It’s all right. I won’t be long.” He leaned into me,
touching his lips to mine. I held on to extend the kiss.

“Be careful,” I pleaded when I finally let him go.

He smiled. “Of course, I always am. I’ll stop for a
pizza on the way back.” He glanced at Joseph. “Maybe three,” he said with a
laugh as he climbed into his car.

I laughed. I’d be lucky if I got one slice with two
werewolves around. Nate started the car but waited until we were inside the
cottage before he took off.

When I saw him pull away, I turned around to face
Joseph. “Are you hungry? I can make you a couple of sandwiches.”

He narrowed his eyes and smiled. “He told you, didn’t
he? About what happens if we change when we’re hungry?”

I was uncomfortable. It was easier to discuss this
with Nate, whom I trusted. But I had to believe that Nate wouldn’t leave me
with him if I weren’t safe. “Yes.”

“And now you feed him as much as you can because you
think he will hurt you?”

“No. I know he won’t hurt me. But I don’t want him or
you to hurt anybody else. And I know he won’t forgive himself if he does.”

“You really love him, don’t you?” His eyes searched
mine for an answer.

“Yes, I do. And I am the only one he’s told about what
happened in the past, when he didn’t eat properly. He doesn’t want his family
to know.”

He nodded, satisfied with my answer. “I know that. And
I don’t like people I care about hearing that I’ve slipped. So I will take four
sandwiches, if you don’t mind.” He sat down and put his feet up on the coffee
table, turning on the TV.

I took out the cold cuts and bread then began throwing
meat and cheese together. I popped a piece of cheese in my mouth before making
a sandwich for myself, realizing that I hadn’t eaten since the doughnuts this
morning. I carried his over to him and handed him a soda.

He smiled. “Thank you, Love.” He sat up and took a few
bites.

After I went back to retrieve my sandwich I sat down
on the couch, staring at the TV, not really paying attention to what was
playing.

“What can you tell me about the lovely Lauren?” he
asked, looking restless.

I looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Why? Are you
going to tell her?”

He finished off his first sandwich. “I’ve a mind to,
but Nate is my friend and he asked me to wait. I’ll heed his advice, for now.”
He took a few more bites, basically eating his next sandwich whole. “I’ll get
to know her before I decide what to do. But now that I know where she is, it’s
hard to be away from her. There’s an intense pull toward her and I’m not sure
if I’m strong enough to fight it.” I could see agitation in his face. “I feel a
need to protect her too.” He quickly gobbled down the last of the sandwiches
and focused on the TV. An old action movie was playing on cable. I gathered our
plates, placing them inside the dishwasher and cleaned up the mess in the
kitchen. I felt like this cottage was my home and I loved taking care of it.

I heard him sigh as I sat back down in the living
room. He stood up and started to pace, constantly glancing at the door as if he
was waiting for someone, or about to make a bolt for it.

“Tell me about her. I’ve a need to be near her, so I’d
better keep my mind busy. Is she nice? I can’t believe my mate would be one of
those rich snobs. She’s pretty as a picture.”

I smiled; happy he cared about what kind of person she
was. “She, like all of the Rileys I know, is very nice, down to earth, not a
snobby bone in her body. I haven’t really known her long. I used to hang out
with another crowd, but since they betrayed me and I didn’t really like them
anyway, she’s become my friend.” I got up, making my way to the fridge to get a
soda. I needed something wash down my lunch. “I don’t know much about this mate
thing, but you couldn’t have found a better one, even if you chose her
yourself.”

His smile spread wide and his eyes sparkled. “I’m
glad.”

I made a decision that might come back to haunt me,
but I suddenly wanted to do something nice for Nate’s friend. “If I call her to
come down, will you promise to act normal? Don’t stand right in front of her
with that glazed stare.”

“Glazed stare?”

“Like all you can see is her. I thought you were about
to drool.”

“
Funny
,” he smirked. “Yes, I’ll behave. I’ll
stay on the other side of the room. I’ll be the perfect gentleman. You’d really
call her for me, even after what Nate said?” His eyes were wide, his body
tense.

“As long as you don’t tell her, I will. I can see
you’re anxious about her safety and all your pacing is making me nervous.”

“Okay, call her,” he said, handing me the phone that
he picked up from the table.

I took it from him, brushing his warm fingers and
dialed. “Hey, Lauren,” I said after she answered.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Not much. I just thought you could come down and hang
out with Joseph and me. Nate’s going to bring back pizza and if you help me
fight them, we might actually get a piece.”

“Sounds fun. I’ll be right down.”

Joseph whispered something in my ear. “Be careful. Get
right into your car and come straight here. Joseph will be watching out front.”

I heard muffled movements and a zipping sound from her
end. “Sure, I’m leaving now.”

I sat on the lounge chair, watching Joseph pace back
and forth on the deck, his bare feet making no sound against the wooden planks.
“Where is she? It’s been ten minutes. It doesn’t take that bloody long to drive
down a driveway.”

I smiled. “It’s a long driveway. Besides, maybe she
had something to do before she came.”

He stopped in front of me. “Well, she could call.” He
sounded irritated, shaking his head, before resuming his pacing.

He was turned away from me, mid-pace, when his head
spun at a noise I didn’t hear. A couple seconds later the crumpling of tires on
gravel sounded beyond the corner. Then Lauren’s blue mini compact car came into
view. I could see Joseph relax as he saw her pull in front of him in the
driveway. She got out and slammed her car door shut. “Hey, does anyone want to
play a game of Scrabble?” she asked, holding up the board game.

Ah… no
, but what else was there to do? “Sure,” Joseph and I said without enthusiasm.

“Hey, Scrabble’s fun.” She took the few steps onto the
deck.

“We’ll take your word for it.” I held the door for her
as she walked in and set the game and her purse on the coffee table. “Nate
still out?”

“Yeah, it’s been an hour. I’m going to call him.” I
picked up my phone and dialed his number.

“Hello.” He picked up after half a ring.

“Hey, how’s it going? I’ve been worried.”

He sighed. “Don’t be worried about me. You’re the one
he wants to hurt. And I’m fine. I picked up a trail at a hotel I think he’s
staying at and I followed it to your house. It’s new, from today. I’m so glad I
got you out of there.”

“What about my family?”

“I’m sure they’re fine, but if it will make you feel
better give them a call to make sure.” Lauren was talking to Joseph about the
game behind me. “Is that Lauren?”

I made my way over to the kitchen out of ear shot,
from Lauren anyway. “Yeah, I asked her to come over. I know I should have
checked with you, but he was worried. How would you feel if there was danger
and you couldn’t be with me? I told him not to say anything and he agreed.”

“I guess it’s fine. And you’re right. I’d need you
near me. Does that mean we have another house guest?”

“I don’t know, but right now Lauren’s setting up a
game of Scrabble.”

“Oh great. I love Scrabble.”

I laughed. “It must be a Riley thing. Joe and I were
not as enthusiastic.”

“Well, I’m going to see where this trail leads and if
it’s a dead end, I’ll be home. Is everything on the pizza all right with you?”

“As long as you don’t include anchovies in your
everything.”

“
Ooh, gross
. I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I hung up and then called Mona.

“Hello?”

“Hey, how are you?” I stayed in the kitchen, away from
the noise. Lauren and Joe were arguing about where to put the game.

“Who’s this?”

“Funny.”

“I’m sorry, but if you’ve called for Megan she’s not
here. She moved out.”

“Yeah, you’re hilarious. I just need some time away
from Mom and Dad. And I think I might move out soon anyway.”

“What? You can’t do that!” she yelled. I heard Ben in
the background asking what was wrong.

“Why not? I’m finished high school. I’m eighteen and I
really don’t want to be there anymore. I’m so tired of them ignoring me.”

“Where would you live? No, let me guess. With Nate?
You be careful, Megan. Don’t jump into anything too soon.”

“Don’t worry about it, he hasn’t even asked me yet.
Anyway, I’m just calling to see how things are there.”

“Same as usual. Your parents went to Brazil for a few
weeks. Did they call you?”

I tried not to let it bother me, but who was I
kidding? They were my parents and I didn’t know they were out of town, let
alone a different country. “Nope, but I’m sure they just forgot.”

She paused. “Honey, you know how they can be.”

“Yeah, I know, Mona. Look, I’m fine, but I should go,
okay?”

“All right, honey, I’ll talk to you later.”

Now I definitely wasn’t in the mood for Scrabble.
“Megan, are you coming?” Lauren called from the table.

“You guys start without me.” I wandered over to the
window, staring out at the moon. It was crescent shaped tonight. I never really
paid attention to its different phases until I found out what Nate was. As
beautiful as it was, my mind kept flashing back to Mona’s words. I didn’t want
to care; however, being ignored by your parents wasn’t something that was easy
to get over.

I watched for Nate’s car, wishing he was here so he
could wrap his arms around me. Nothing comforted me more than his warm, strong
embrace.

A movement in the bushes near the driveway caught my
attention. I saw a small, yellow glow that looked like an eye. I moved closer,
my forehead against the cold glass and saw that there were two yellow spots. I
gasped as I realized what it was. “Joseph!” I yelled, stepping away from the
window. He was beside me in a second, his smell of woodsy pine wafting toward
me. I pointed outside where the eyes were and now I could see the outline of a
black wolf.

“Lock the doors and stay together,” he yelled, rushing
out the door.

Lauren and I huddled on the couch, watching the door.

A few minutes later, there was a noise in the bedroom.

We stared towards the doorway, not willing to move
from our spot. Rowan sauntered out, wearing one of Nate’s Everest High T-shirts
and his favorite faded jeans. “Hello, ladies.” His lips were turned up in a
cheerful smile, but his eyes were full of malice.

“JOSEPH!” I screamed as loud as I possibly could.

The next second Rowan was behind me, yanking me out of
Lauren’s grip and off the couch. His clammy hand was pressed over my mouth. He
had a wild, feral smell that burned my nostrils. “Shut up. If you don’t want me
to kill your friend you’ll come with me,” he whispered, dragging me toward the
door.

There was a noise outside the living room window.
Rowan spun us around just in time to see a russet brown wolf dive through the
window with a loud shattering crash, sending pieces of glass everywhere.

Rowan let go of me and I ran at Lauren, pushing her
down behind the couch.